A chronicle of our family's transition to an off-grid, more self-sufficient and eco-friendlier lifestyle, sharing, wherever possible, helpful links and ideas, in order to ease anyone else's journey along this path

Monday, 21 November 2011

When we arrived on the farm on Friday it was a warm, but comfortable 27 - 28oC (82 - 83oF).

RMan got started on fitting the new belt to the mower, whilst I started on de-rocking and forking / raking through a new area in the shade cloth veggie patch. Englishman knew of, and offered the assistance of a local labourer he uses, which, after all the effort of the first bed, I gratefully, and willingly, accepted. But he was only due to work on Saturday.

Why didn't we do more while we could...!

Dashboard temperature gauge
displaying (driving) external temperature

Saturday was absolutely unbearable! We had to go to a ratepayers meeting (which lasted from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.) - and sitting in a smallish room with a corrugated tin roof, together with about 20 - 25 other people, the heat became stifling.

Pool thermometer hanging by
a window in the farm house

Driving home after the meeting, the car's external temperature display gave us a reading of 35oC (95oF). Opening the door and stepping into the house the (pool) thermometer showed a very comfortable 24oC (75oF) - a clear indication that the double glazing, vaulted ceiling and the new ceiling panels are all doing their job. How can double glazing in new builds / renovations not be required by law in this country? Yes, it is about 50% more expensive, but the power saving from not having to use heaters / air conditioners, should surely be the driving force behind such a law. Given the sad state of our power supply, and the predicted sad state of same, I am at a loss. And as for corrugated tin roofs - when on earth are they going to completely ban those heat traps?

Car dashboard thermometer driving home last night

Then finally, driving home at 10.30 p.m. last night, as we approached Cape Town on the N2, we drove through a heavy rain storm. There the temperature was even more comfortable. A measly 13oC (55oF)

This range is almost like hopping on a plane in the southern hemisphere during a heatwave and arriving in Europe 12 hours later to their autumn / winter temps!

Heat makes me wilt - the cooler weather immediately rejuvenates me.

Thank goodness RMan is making eco-friendly provisions to ease the discomfort on the farm... (sorry, you'll have to wait until later in the week for info on that :) )

Mr H - February and March are our best months in Cape Town. Hotter than h*ll and very little wind :)

Jane - I specifically checked my pumpkin plants and they have masses of flowers - even a female one - on each plant! They are certainly 10 times bigger than my town ones, and very healthy living. Here in town - no, they didn't like the 33oC heat of Saturday... Go figure!?

You are so right about the roofing. We built before we learnt about all this stuff, so our roof is corrugated iron and our house becomes unbearable in summer. We just try and suffer through it but a couple of years ago we had a run of 40degree plus days, many in the mid 40's, and the house was uninhabitable! I have planted trees near the house and hope when they grow, the house will be cooler. Congratulations on your cool home. A job well done!

We have a metal roof, but we planned a green house. It is insulated, with whirly-birds to draw out the heat. Just one small window on the afternoon sun side. Deep eaves for summer shade. A deep verandah at the living-room. Everyone who comes into the house in summer says how cool it is!

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About me

Married for 34 years to RMan, mum to our two kids, Natasha and Richard, and Nana to my precious grandson, Mike, and new baby granddaughter, HJG. If you would like to send me an e-mail, please do so to: dani at ecofootprint dot co dot za

(This pewter footprint & image is the property of Eco Footprint - South Africa and may not be downloaded, copied nor reproduced without permission)